....looking at them tonight, to see if there's a good bet in there. Anyway a lot of punters would not go past backing one of the usual suspects ie:- Brazil, Spain, England, Argentina etc.

The top nine fancies are littered with teams who've won it before, the only other team outside the top nine who have are Uruguay at an amazing 125 to 1.
Can someone please tell me why their odd's are so poor, as I'm thinking of an each-way flutter.

BTW Italy and Germany at 14/1 are good bets also IMO.

Because they are ranked below Egypt, Greece, USA and Serbia?

Yes, I understand the rankings, but is it only me who thinks why are Spain favourites, as I could not see them winning it myself.

Maybe because they have the best team.

if italy can afford to leave home rossi, totti and toni, they must have some brilliant strikers, so i reckon 14/1 for them is brilliant odds.

What on paper, at club level Spain are strong, but at international level they consistently fail.
Infact they are one of the few big European teams who have a worst World Cup record than us, they've qualified for 12 W.C. Finals and their best finish is 4th in 1950.

Agreed, with their aggression and flair I think they're a good bet. 7/1 for a top 2 finish.

There a bit old like, average age of about 97.

True, but they won it in 82' with a 40 yr old Captain and keeper Dino Zoff, although David James is now 39.

They got that monkey of their back in the Euros, I can't see anyone other than Spain or England winning. Brazil are a shadow of their past glories and only rated highly because of their history. The Argies only scraped into the finals. Holland can suprise anyone but this is not a vintage Holland side, France are a pub team at the moment, Italy are a a danger but not that dangerous and Germany are always there or thereabouts of course.

If England play to their potential, and I think Capello will ensure that they will, I can see England keeping on going until they meet Spain.

I think Spain stand out but there is a big group of OK but flawed sides after them. I reckon Italy, England, Brazil, Germany, Holland, Argentina, and maybe a couple of others, all have a mix of strengths and weaknesses so whoever has an inform striker or two will emerge to rival Spain. If Rooney is off form, sent off or injured can't see England doing much, if he has a good tournament they're as good as the rest of that bunch.

France might be a good bet if their odds are long. They were terrible in qualifying but Domanech is going after the tournament so there is a chance that the players will pretty much ignore him and pull together. If they do they have the players to beat most of the teams that are there.

Ivory Coast are my outside bet. They could surprise a few.

Capello is as hard as nuts and he doesn't like the players on a personal basis

They are shit scared of him and that is a good thing

I bet the words 'Stevie G' has never passed Capello's lips. And thank fuck for that!

I can't remember who England were playing, but they had a piss poor first half and Stevie G was one of the main culprits


The look Capello scared the cack out of Gerrard he dropped his head and scuttled off

He did the same with piggy eyes from Chelsea

Peter Crouch is 66-1 to be the tournaments top scorer, worth a pound surely

Ivory Coast could be worth a flutter, not seen the odds yet but seeing as they are in the "group of death" then i assume they will be decent odds and drop sharply if they qualify from the group.

Did i hear someoen talk about altitude training the other day?? Could the African teams have an advantage?

Getting a few quid on the Dutch.

No considering half their squads play in England or other European countries, coupled with the fact that all the teams have been in altitude training camps prior to going over there, also they will be training for over a week in african conditions.

Tis an advantage to teams nearer the equator to be able to handle the heat, I remember when younger playing an eleven a side game in Spain, and believe me I was fit then, but was completely knackered after 10 mins. The heat just saps all your energy like a lap-top battery.

My WC bets are as follows

Single To Win P Crouch (England) @ 50/1 Top Goalscorer Pending £1.00
World Cup 2010 Top Goalscore D Villa (Spain) @ 8/1 £5.00


I'll be rich I tell ye, RICH

Peter Croutch although I hope your wrong.

David Villa best shout as they play Honduras in the group stage and I can see that being about 5-0.

Another dark horse might be Diego Folan.

He could get a load in the groups stages because the rest of the teams are shite an we will pagger them

Although this has no bearing on the thread I think Forlan's face looks like a boiled horse

Wouldnt bet on Ivory Coast now Drogba is out of the world cup

Two down, three to go

Please read the first post....

Apart from England obviously, my post wasn't far out either.

So did you get a bet on Uruguay?

Yes, BP had £2 each way on Italy and Germany @14/1, and £1 each way on Uruguay at 125/1. So if Germany meet Uruguay in the final I'll put a pint behind the bar for you in the Kings Arms.

Mines a Strongbow!!